Parlor-game apparatus



(No Model.; v 3 sheets-sheet 1.

WfL. BASS. PARLOR GAME APPARATUS.

No. 588,811. Patented Aug. 24, 1897.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. -W. L. BASS.

PARLOR GAMB APPARATUS. No.` 588,811. Patented Aug. 24, 1897.

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Patented Aug.' 24, `189'7.

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A TTOHN X$` VUNITED STATES PATENT Orme-E.

IYILLIAM L. BASS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PARLoR-GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,81 1, dated August 24, 1897. n Application filed December 24,' 1896. Serial No. 616,859. (No model.)l

To all whom t 711ml/ concer/1.,'

Beit known that I, WILLIAM L. BASS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of Newv York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inParlor-Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to furnish a game for indoor or parlor use Which affords entertainment in a manner similar to checkers, chess, &c., and with the similarity and fascination of a game of foot-ball as actually played on a field.'

The invention consists of an indoor or parlor game comprised of a rectangular field divided in a similar manner to the conventional foot-ball field, furnished with pieces serving to comprise sets of rush-men, backs, and a referee for each side. The rush-men and backs are provided With means for supporting a ball which is adapted to be carried by rush-men or backs The invention consists, further, of certain details of construction, such as the arrangement of the field and the construction of rush-men, backs, and ball, as Will be fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan View of a field for my improved indoor game of parlor foot-ball, showing both parties in line-up at center-line. Figs.l 2 and 2 represent diagrams illustrating the moves of a fruslrman Figs. 3 and 3a are diagrams representing the moves of a back. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating control of rush-man or back over piece with ball. Figs. 4 and 4b are diagrams illustrating the relative control of a back over a piece with ball. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are diagrams illustrating the defense of the ball by eight (5), six (6), and four (7) (8). Figs. 9 and 9a are diagrams representing, respectively, the formation of a Wedge7 on the free field (9) and a wedge on the touchline (9a). Figs. 10 and 10a are diagrams representing the line-'np when the ball is hard pressed on the goal-line (10) or hard pressed on the touch-line (10"). Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are respectively side and top views of pieces adapted as a rush-man i (11), a back (l2), and a referee (13). Fig. 14 is a side View and a central section of the ball adaptable in connection with the rush-men and backs Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a rectangular field, which is formed on a piece of paper, pasteboard, wood, or other suitable material, and made in the relative proportionV of seventyfive by one hundred and fifteen, so as to correspond to the number of yards in the field of the outdoorgame of foot-ball. The field is made rectangular and divided into single, double, and treble or more spaces, tending to abbreviate the game.' The shorter ends of the rectangular field A are the goal-lines, on which the goal-posts x are located,which are indicated by black characters. The longer sides of the rectangular eld A are the touch-lines. The distinguishing-line a. across the center of the field representsthe ccenter -line, While the number of pronounced lines @M3 on either side of the center-line and parallel therewith are respectively the tWenty-ive-yard line and fifteen-yard line. The dotted lines A', arranged parallel with the outside of the rectangular field-A, represent spaces for play whenv hard pressed on which pieces without the ball are lprivileged to move. The dotted lines a4, arranged diagonally in relation to the goal-posts, are for guidance for attempting a goaL7 In connection with the representation of the field A my improved game is played with a set of eight pieces B, representing rush- 'men, one of which is available as a so-called quarter-back, and a set of three backs D foreach side, said rush-men and backs all'bcing entitled to carry the ball. The rush-men are represented by disks B, Fig. 11, provided with conically-tapering center portions ZJ, the backs by disks D, provided With Shanks of greater height d than the center portions hof the rush-men B, said Shanks having conically-tapering heads d', as shown in Fig. 12, while the ball is represented by a spherical body E, vliattened at one side and provided with a conicallyfta- 'pering recess c, extending from the vflat side inwardly, as shown in Fig. 14E. The"rush men, backs, and ball maybe represented by pieces in any other form and material,

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provided, however, that each side has its special distinguishing colorone side, for instance, having black and the other white. The referee for each side is represented by a square or other piece F, as shown in Fig. 13. The rush-men 7 and quarter-back are entitled to move one space in either direction to a vacant square, while the half and full backs are entitled to move two spaces in a square or diagonal direction, but not over any men, to a vacant square. No piece can move diagonally between two men, as shown, respectively, in Figs. 2 and 3, which indicate by arrows the permissible motion of the rush-men and backs The rush-men command a held when directly opposite the ball, Fig. 4, and backs when directly in front, Fig. 4, or within two spaces in front, Fig. Li-. The ball is permitited to be passed when cheld or free to one of the pieces of the same side one or two spaces straight or diagonally back, or backward, like a knight in chess, but the ball cannot be passed to a piece already confronted as held front ofthe ball calls held, the man carryingtheball cannot be moved, and when the ball cannot be properly passed in any di rection it is down. The backs can command a held for a distance of one or two spaces, and if a man can be placed to interfere after aback calls held the ball is still free, Fig. 4J. Afterevery down the ball must win or lose three spaces in reference to the last line-up, as indicated by last location, as per referee, or the ball has to change hands. This three-space rule dominates over all questions when regarded from the referees position. Then the ball changes hands after a down, the other side takes possession of the ball wherever it happens to be. Afterevery down a line up is in vogue, and the scattered men are reassembled about the ball. From a lineup the side having the ball moves first by passing the ball.

The referees have to be maintained at each down in proper location by the respective parties. The referee of each side is located in line with the opponents rushline, leaving three spaces or moreintervening, and the partly failing to promptly locate his referee yields three spaces and the ball, if he has it, immediately upon discovery of such neglect, where the ball happens to be. The duty of the referees is to indicate the last line-up, they remaining perfectly still until a fresh line-up is to be made.

The game is played as follows I. The start- The game is started by tossing up for possession of the ball with all men lined up on both sides of the center-line ofthe field. The line-up must consist of seven men at least on the rush-line, one rush-man serving as quarter-back two spaces back of the rush-line. The halfbacks are always located on the fourth Then an opponent squarely in spaces back of the rush-line, and the fullback on the sixth spaces back. No back can extend farther to the right or left than a straight back protection of the rush-line. This rule is always to be preserved, except when hard pressed near the goal-line, in which case the full-back first crowds toward the half-backs. Then the spaceis vstill more limited, the half-backs crowd toward the quarter-backs, and with-'still more limited space the quarter backs crowd toward the rush-line. The spaces outside of the goal-lines and outside of the touch-lines are to be made use of when opportunity offers itself in the formation of a line-up. The side not possessing the ball can play without having any one on the quarterback line and can have eight line-mem7 if desired.

II. Advancing the ball-The ball can be advanced by carrying, by the fault of opponents referee to be properly located, or by kicks, which are punts or dropkicks acquired by the following formations: A punt is a ball chosen to be sent straight forward and which cannot cross, but can go as far as the goal-line. A drop-kick advances the ball diagonally, extends as far as the touch-line allows, and can cross the goal-line. The act of kicking the ball counts a move, the opposing side to have one move between the last move which completed the kiek formation and the sending of the ball forward, which counts as a move. After a kick the ball is free to be acquired and taken up by any man unless it lands on a space occupied by a man. Formation entitling to kicks must be taken immediately upon the completion of such formation and for the full distance alloted or the opportunity is lost. Kicks are not compulsory when the ball is not held and cannot bepass`ed. The party that brings all his men into the scrimmage iirst gets the ball for a new lineu .73

Kicks are acquired under the following conditions and prospective valuations: A man with a ball, defended by eight of his men, as shown in Fig. 5, is entitled to an optional kick of twelve spaces, drop7 or punt Then the ball is defended by three men in front and three men behind, as shown in Fig. 6, the player is entitled to an optional kick of nine spaces. VtThen the ball is defended at right angles by four men squarely, as shown in Fig. 7, the player is entitled to an optional kick of six spaces. TWhen the ball is defended and not held by four men diagonally, as shown in Fig. 8, the player is entitled to an optional kiekof three spaces. Vhen the ball is defended by a Wedge formation, as shown in Fig. 9, the player is entitled to an optional kick of fifteen spaces. A

wedge is formed when the ball is exclusively surrounded by its defenders, the forward portion of the defenders forming a .wedge, with four men on each side, the

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588,811 n A s head man included when in the free iield. When the touch-line interferes with the equilateral formation, the long side must count four men and the balance be bunched toward the touch-line and the ball,as shown in Fig. 9, and in all wedges the ball must be immediately behind the most forward man. The wedge, however, cannot be formed on the defensive with the ball back of the fifteen-yard line.77 Y

III. Scores-Then the ball is played through opponents goal-posts by a dropkick or carried, a goal is obtained, which scores sixpoints. Vhen the bali is played across opponents goal-line else- Where than through the goal-posts by a drop-kick or by being carried, it is a touch-down, scoring four points. l/Vhen the ball is carried back by the party over its own goal-line, between the goal-posts or not, it is called a safetyj scoring two points for the opponents. After scoring a goal a new line-up is in vogue in the center of the field, the ball passing to the pposing party. After a safety the party can play a new line-up on the fifteenyard line7 straight out.

touch-down, the party scoring can bring the ball out as far as desired and have one line-up to try forv a goal, and if made the touch-down is turned into a goaL7 If it is not made, only the touch-down is scored and the balll is in possession of the After scoring av opposing side and it is played back of their twenty-ve-yard line, straight out from the immediate location ofthe ball.

My improved game of indoor foot-ball may A nien, backs, referees,and ball, also the formation lof the line-ups]7 Wedges, die., and the score but it may also be played with different rules, or with a number of accessory rules, which may be devised and laid down for instructions, whereby the interest of the game might be increased, preserving more closely the various phases of the game of football as played upon the actual field.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A game apparatus, consisting of a rectangular iield laid out with the usual lines of a foot-ball iield, an additional subdivided emergency space on each side of said field, two sets of differently-colored pieces representing two foot-ball teams, and a ball adapted to be carried by any piece of either teamsubstan tially as set forth.

- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. L. BASS. Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, GEo. W. JAEKEL. 

